Wednesday, August 15, 2012

AA "Spiritual Experiences" -- Appendix for our New Book

Occurrences of the Phrase “Spiritual Experience(s)” in the
Fourth Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous

The phrase “spiritual awakening” did not occur in the first
printing of the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (which had a copyright
date of April 10, 1939). Even in the fourth edition of Alcoholics Anonymous
(2001), the phrase “spiritual awakening” only occurs once up to page 164, and
that is on page 60, where the phrase is included in the wording of Step 12:
“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, . . .” Step 12
originally read, in the first printing of the first edition of Alcoholics
Anonymous, “Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, . .
.” Here are the occurrences of the phrase “spiritual experience(s)” up through
page 164 of the fourth edition and in “Appendix II: Spiritual Experience.”

P. XVI (“Foreword to Second Edition”):Six months earlier, the broker had been
relieved of his drink obsession by a sudden spiritual experience, following a
meeting with an alcoholic friend who had been in contact with the Oxford Groups
of that day.

[This
Foreword was not included in the first edition. The second edition of
Alcoholics Anonymous was first printed in 1955.]

P. 25 (“There Is A Solution”):The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we
have had deep and effective spiritual experiences(*) which have revolutionized
our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God's universe.

P. 27 (“There Is A Solution”): This hope, however, was destroyed by the doctor's telling
him that while his religious convictions were very good, in his case they did
not spell the necessary vital spiritual experience.

P. 27 (“There Is A Solution”):Here and there, once in a while, alcoholics have had what
are called vital spiritual experiences.

P. 29 (“There Is A Solution”):Surprisingly enough, we find such convictions no great
obstacle to a spiritual experience.

P. 44 (“We Agnostics”):If
that be the case, you may be suffering from an illness which only a spiritual
experience will conquer.

[This footnote was not in the first printing of the first
edition. It was added in a later
printing of the first edition.]

P. 56 (“We Agnostics”):One
night, when confined in a hospital, he was approached by an alcoholic who had
known a spiritual experience.

[** P. 60 (“How It Works”) **][Step 12 in the fourth edition reads: “Having had a
spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, . . .” Step 12 in the first
edition (1939), found on page 72, read: “Having had a spiritual experience as
the result of these steps, . . .” The phrase “spiritual experience” was changed
to “spiritual awakening” in the second printing of the first edition. “Appendix
II: Spiritual Experience” and footnotes on pages 35, 38, and 72 stating “see
Appendix II” were also added in the second printing of the first edition. A
footnote on page 59 stating “Please See Appendix II” was added in the fourth
printing of the first edition. Source: “Big Book Changes”:
http://silkworth.net/bb_changes/BB-Changes-02.pdf ; accessed 8/14/12]

P. 66 (“How It Works”):But
with the alcoholic, whose hope is the maintenance and growth of a spiritual
experience, this business of resentment is infinitely grave.

P. 75 (“Into Action”):We
may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have a spiritual
experience.

P. 79 (“Into Action”):Reminding
ourselves that we have decided to go to any lengths to find a spiritual
experience, we ask that we be given strength and direction to do the right
thing, no matter what the personal consequences may be.

P. 119 (“To Wives”):Your
husband will be the first to say it was your devotion and care which brought
him to the point where he could have a spiritual experience.

P. 124 (“The Family Afterward”):In the first flush of spiritual experience they forgave each
other and drew closer together.

P. 128 (“The Family Afterward”):Assume on the other hand that father has, at the outset, a
stirring spiritual experience.

P. 130 (“The Family Afterward”):We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual
experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.

P. 131 (“The Family Afterward”):Being possessed of a spiritual experience, the alcoholic will
find he has much in common with these people, though he may differ with them on
many matters.

P. 155 (“A Vision for You”):A
spiritual experience, he conceded, was absolutely necessary, but the price
seemed high upon the basis suggested.

P. 157 (“A Vision for You”):The
two friends spoke of their spiritual experience and told him about the course
of action they carried out.

P. 158 (“A Vision for You”):He
had begun to have a spiritual experience.

P. 567 [(569), Appendix II]:The
terms "spiritual experience" and "spiritual awakening" are
used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the
personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has
manifested itself among us in many different forms.

[The facts:
(a) The phrase “spiritual awakening” did not occur in the first printing of the
first edition. (b) The phrase “spiritual awakening” first appeared in the Big
Book in the second printing of the first edition, when the phrase “spiritual
awakening” was substituted for “spiritual experience” in Step 12, and “Appendix
II: Spiritual Experience” (with its two occurrences of the phrase) was added.]

P. 568 [(570), Appendix II):Most
of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of
spiritual experience.

[As stated
above, “Appendix II: Spiritual Experience” was added to Alcoholics Anonymous in
the second printing of the first edition.]

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Richard G. Burns holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Stanford University where he was Case Editor of the Stanford Law Review. He was a Phi Beta Kappa in his Junior Year at UC Berkeley. There he received an A.A. degree in economics with Honorable Mention. He was an Information and Education Specialist in the United States Army where he held the rank of Sgt. He attended the information-education school at Washington & Lee University. He practiced law in California from 1951 to 1986. He was president of the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, Corte Madera Center Merchants Council, Mill Valley Community Church, Redwoods Retirement Center, and Almonte District Improvemen Club. Also elected Director of the Almonte Sanitary District. He is a writer, historian, retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and active recovered member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous with continuous sobriety beginning April 21, 1986.

He writes under the pen name Dick B. He has devoted 24 years to researching the history and successes of the early A.A. Christian Fellowship in Akron; and published 46 titles, more than 1450 articles, and materials on Facebook, Twitter, MauiHistorian.Blogspot.com, Alcoholics Anonymous History.com, In the Rooms, Linked-in, Tumbler, MauiHistorian.Word Press.com, Aa Historian WordPress.com, AA History with Dick B. on cyber recovery social, Dick B. YouTube Channel, Articles Base, GoArticles.com, SearchWarp, Self Growth Experts, Social network forums on International Christian Recovery Coalition Forums, Recovery Internet Fellowship, Cyber Recovery, Daily Recovery, Christian Recovery Ministries, radio, TV, and over 70 audio blogs on the history subject. He regularly conducts radio interviews of Christian Recovery Leaders and Workers on www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com.

He is Executive Director of the International Christian Recovery Coalition and of Freedom Ranch Maui Incorporated. He is an Advisor to God's Way Ministry, a Christian Church and is also a consultant to Wyoming Pacific Oil Company. Listed in Marquis Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Law, Who's Who in Finance, and Gale's Contemporary Authors